CLT20 TV ratings jump by 35 per cent

The second edition of Airtel Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa has shown an impressive 35 per cent increase in television viewership as compared to that of last year, the official broadcasters said on Thursday.

The tournament recorded an average TVR of 2.05 as compared to 1.52 TVR last year, according to the research agency TAM.

The tournament was sampled by 94.5 million viewers across the country. The figures of ACL T20 are comparable to the ICC World T20 held earlier this year in West Indies which reached out to 100 million viewers.

The finals between Chennai Super Kings and Warriors rated 4.53 TVR across the country. The city of Chennai followed the fortunes of its team aggregating 8.3 TVR for the match.

The trend was not limited to the finals alone.

Four matches of Mumbai Indians gave an average TVR of 5.6. The Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore encounter returned with a 6.1 TVR in Mumbai.

Six matches of the Chennai Super Kings returned with an average TVR of 4.8. Similarly, Bangalore city fans followed the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ACL T20.

Bangalore city averaged 4.7 TVR for all the five matches of RCB. The Mumbai Indians and RCB encounter generated a high of 5.9 TVR in the city.

"We are delighted with the audience response for the second edition of the Champions League T20. The viewership numbers have shown an impressive uptrend and we are confident that this marquee event, featuring champion T20 club teams from premier cricketing nations, will grow from strength to strength in the future," said Rathindra Basu, Director, Corporate Communications and Business Development, ESPN India.